By Dr. Afriyie Randell
WKTV Community Volunteer
March was Women’s History Month and with that in mind, this is a good time to highlight the everyday women’s journey through healthcare.
Most young women are healthy and are not seen for regular checkups, however even as a young adult routine exam are essential. Same goes for men. By the time you are 18 years of age you should have had one or more encounters with a health care professional to monitor your growth, been seen for a sick visit, or even received a vaccine.
You should visit your health care provider from time to time even if you are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:
1. Assist you in getting to know your provider just in case you may become ill
2. Encourage a healthy lifestyle
3. Screen for Medical concerns
4. Go over Family and Past Medical history
5. Update Vaccinations
6. Assess your risks for future medical problems
7. Physical Exam
8. Obtain routine lab work
These visits could help you to avoid medical conditions such as high cholesterol and diabetes that are often obtained from labs in the early stages without evidence of symptoms. Not to mention high blood pressure is checked regularly at these visits.
There are of course more specific times when you should see your provider especially between the ages of 18 and 39.
You may be screened for alcohol misuse as early as 18-years-old with too much drinking being seen as greater than three drinks per day or seven drinks per week.
Screening for mammograms begins at 40, while screening for colon cancer begins at 50 but should be considered sooner if someone in your family has or has had it/
Cholesterol screening should start at 20 if you have known risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity or family history.
Go to your dentist twice a year or yearly.
Receive a flu shot every year. Also consider the COVID 19 vaccine as well as get up to date with all other vaccines.
Cervical Cancer screenings begin at age 21 and as per provider recommendations thereafter usually ranging from three to five years depending on your age.
Always remember to take good care of your health.
